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In recent years, new surgical techniques have been developed to correct eyesight and to reduce the requirement for wearing glasses. Laser eye surgery, as this surgery is commonly known, involves the reshaping of the cornea. The cornea is the transparent surface located near to the front of the eye.

There are many different types of vision problems. The most common types are: short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hypermetropia), and astigmatism. Regardless of the type of vision problem to be treated, the same type of laser, referred to as an excimer laser, is used during laser eye surgery.

The Types of Laser Eye Surgery

There are four main types of laser eye surgery:

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

PRK has been carried out by surgeons since the late 1980s yet since the development of new techniques, such as LASIK and LASEK, PRK is now mainly used for the correction of a low degree of short-sightedness. In PRK, the cornea is reshaped with the help of an excimer laser. However, a flap of corneal tissue is not cut during this procedure.

Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

LASIK has been carried out since the mid-1990s. The majority of types of refractive error are able to be corrected through LASIK. However, the procedure may not be suitable for the correction of a high degree of short-sightedness. During LASIK, surgeons make an incision across the cornea and create a flap of tissue. This tissue is then raised and the exposed surface reshaped with the excimer laser. Following laser treatment, the flap is replaced. A typical LASIK eye treatment lasts around four minutes in duration.

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis (LASEK)

LASEK is not dissimilar to PRK. However, the surface layer of the cornea, known as the epithelium, is retained as a flap. This retention of the epithelium is believed to prevent complications following surgery and may also reduce healing times.

Wavefront-guided LASIK

Wavefront-guided LASIK lessens the eye’s natural irregularities. These irregularities can cause the insufficient focusing of light rays and can hence improve vision following surgery.

Patients considering laser eye surgery should consult with their eye surgeon to determine the best way in which to correct vision, and the benefits and drawbacks of the use of eye glasses, contact lenses and laser eye surgery.

For more information about laser eye surgery, click here.

The Risks of Laser Eye Surgery

The complications of laser eye surgery occur in fewer than five percent of cases. Patients wishing to undergo laser eye surgery will find that their chosen surgeon will discuss the risks of treatment with them.

Some people who undergo laser eye surgery may experience problems with dry eyes following surgery. Artificial tear supplements may therefore be required following surgery to prevent dry eyes. Many patients who have just undergone laser eye surgery will experience glare or halo effects when they are operating a vehicle during the night. This halo effect is increasingly likely to occur if a high degree of short-sightedness or long-sightedness has been corrected with surgery. The effect is usually only temporary and is rarely severe.

In rare cases, surgery can cause thinning of the eye wall. This can render the shape of the eye relatively unstable following treatment. Severe vision loss following surgery is very unusual. However, patients who experience vision loss may require further surgery to help to restore their vision. Alternatively, they may require the use of hard contact lenses.

“Laser eye surgery, also known as the LASIK procedure, has been around for a few decades now. This advanced form of eye surgery was always helpful but it has recently begun to make incredible changes in the lives of the people who receive this surgical treatment of their vision problems. The process is very simple and involves little pain and a remarkably short recovery.

History of Eye Surgery

Surgeons have been able to operate on the eyes successfully since the middle of the 20th century. A metal knife known as a microkeratome was used to cut the cornea open and excise portions in order to have an effect on the vision. This procedure could be effective but it obviously had the drawback of causing pain in the patient due to the inherent discomfort of having a knife scrape at your eye. For this reason, surgeons actively looked for ways to make the surgical process easier on the patient.

In the 1980′s, a doctor finally patented a procedure that used lasers to improve vision by carving the cornea just as surgeons had previously done with knives. In the following decade, this method gained acceptance and was lauded for the short amount of time required and the relatively small amount of pain caused. In the first decade of the 21st century, a computer-aided version of this procedure began to allow doctors to do more than simply fix a patient’s vision. The wavefront technique can actually make some patients see better than normal and give them 20/10 vision or better.

Steps To Laser Eye Surgery

” The patient stops wearing contact lenses for a certain period of weeks prior to surgery. Each doctor will explain the specifics to patients, depending on the type of lenses that they wear.
” The patient arrives at the doctor’s office or other surgical center just prior to the surgery. The surgical team will use a special device to map the patient’s cornea for reference during the surgery.
” The patient self-administers anesthetic drops in his or her eyes right before lying down for the surgery.
” A member of the surgical team applies a corneal suction ring to the eye on which they will be operating. This holds the eye still and diminishes interference from the eye lids.
” The surgeon turns on the laser and quickly cuts the cornea and folds it down, leaving a hinge at the bottom and essentially turning the cornea into a flap.
” With the middle cornea exposed, the surgeon cuts away material and alters the shape of this part of the eye as is necessary.
” The surgeon checks for debris, moisture and air bubbles before closing the flap. There is no need for suturing as this incision will close and heal on its own over the course of weeks.
” Afterward, the patient, who has remained awake the entire sixty seconds that were required for cutting, will receive anti-biotic eye drops. The only precautions that he or she will have to follow regard bright lights and sunglasses. The eye will heal on its own and soon be working better than it did prior to the laser eye surgery operation.”

Health care professionals who make and dispense spectacles and other corrective vision equipment are known as opticians rather than optometrists or ophthalmologists. These latter actually perform medical tests or have medical training. An optician focuses primarily on the equipment and teaching eye patients how to wear and care for their eye glasses.

The tasks performed by opticians have only existed since the middle ages. Prior to this period, spectacles, or eyeglasses, were unknown to the human race. People with poor vision simply suffered or went blind. The idea of using glass, or water, to improve vision for the purposes of reading was known to the ancients but no one seems to have created functioning eyeglasses until around 1,000 years ago. Paintings done by monks in the 14th century clearly show men in scriptoriums wearing spectacles as they copy texts. It is not known just how useful these devices were.

It was not until the 16th century that someone invented concave lenses to help with myopia. This was truly the task of opticians. You could not simply make spectacles from random pieces of glass. They realized that the glass had to be ground and shaped a certain way in order to have a truly beneficial effect on vision.

The next great advance in the manufacture of lenses was a device to keep them attached to one’s nose. Prior to this, wearers of spectacles were forced to hold the lenses against their eyes to keep them in place. The initial improvement of this problem required the use of a strap that held the lenses in place. In the 18th century, opticians finally determined how to hold the spectacles in place with rigid pieces of metal attached to the sides of the lenses which ran over the ears.

By the late 18th century, many people around the world were wearing eyeglasses. This allowed educated people to continue reading well into their old age and discontinued the need for people to read aloud to these individuals. Adaptations of this corrective eyewear continued throughout the 19th century. Use of the monocle began to spread around Europe during this century. The monocle was a single lens that could fit neatly between cheek bone and eyebrow.

Today, opticians work in conjunction with ophthalmologists to create eye wear that is specifically fabricated to fit the needs of specific individuals. The ophthalmologist performs the necessary tests and analyzes the medical problem that may be causing the impaired vision. Then he or she recommends the patient to an in-house optician who can select or create the right lens required to correct the problem. The optician will also instruct the patient in how to use the spectacles and care for them properly.

An optician can also work in an independent setting in which he or she makes and fits lenses for patients who have been recommended by ophthalmologists. This field continues to grow as the world population ages and experiences need for corrective eye wear. The work of opticians also includes recommending the accessories that go with eyewear.

People visiting an eye care center commonly see two professionals. The optometrist is the professional who performs the eye exam. The optician performs the fitting of the glasses or contacts, once the optometrist has determined the prescription of the patient. Opticians are required to have a formal education in the field. The degree required is called an Ophthalmic Dispensing Degree.

After earning the degree, he/she can start to work in an optometrist’s office. The formal education does not include practical experience. During the next few years, the optician learns the practical side of the profession. In many cases this learning period is a lot like an apprenticeship under the supervision of an experienced professional. 21 states currently require a license to practice, while other states offer certification exams instead.

The role of this professional in an optometrist’s office can include many functions from customer care to management. Opticians however, are not qualified to fulfill any medical related functions. The optometrist is the only one allowed to determine prescriptions, perform any tests, change prescriptions, or provide any other medical related functions concerning the patients’ care.

Once the patient’s prescription is determined by the optometrist, the optician will fill the prescription. He/she will convert the prescription into an ophthalmic lens. Patients often need their glasses for specific purposes, like sports or other activities. Reading glasses for example, have to perform differently than glasses worn for driving, hunting or running. The optician ensures that the glasses fit the patients’ needs and requirements. Even modifications to frames are done by the optician. This can include adjustments to relieve pressure points, or just preventing the glasses from slipping and sliding down the bridge of the nose. Whatever the problem with the glasses may be, he/she will work with the patients until they are satisfied with the fit of the new eyeglasses.

Opticians have to use several pieces of equipment/tools to perform their function. A Lensometer is used to determine the correct prescription. It also marks lenses to fit correctly into the various frame shapes, and determines the axis, sphere, add, and cylinder. A pupilometer is used to measure the distance between the patient’s pupils. This is important, as lenses centered in the visual axis perform best. A keratometer determines if a patient has a condition called astigmatism, which is a very common condition of the eyes. Specialized equipment is also needed to fit contact lenses.

Opticians can work in a variety of environments. Most common places of employment include hospitals, retail stores, optometrists’ offices, and independent practices. Optical stores are also common work places. The median salary depends on several factors, and can vary from $ 19,000 to $ 45,000 annually. Factors influencing salaries are experience, location, additional certifications, specialization, and employment status. Some opticians branch out and open their own stores, or specialize in a particular area like design or fabrication. A specialized field is design and fabrication,which can be particularly rewarding. Opticians can offers patients with traumatic injuries or anatomical defects the chance to live a normal life.

Some people opt for laser eye treatment because they no longer wish to use contacts or glasses. Choosing this option means gathering information on the procedure as well as the side effects. Choosing an experienced doctor is paramount. Research is necessary to have a complete understanding of what you will experience and the healing process.

Many doctors may not consider this treatment for diabetic patients because the disease negatively impacts the length of the healing process. However some doctors may choose to perform the procedure. Medical care for laser eye surgery is very important and should be handled with caution.

This procedure entails cutting a small flap of the cornea. Once the flap is cut and lifted a laser is used to reshape the cornea. The flap is then replaced. Using a laser to perform this procedure minimizes risks because the process is more precise. This means that fewer problems may arise as a result. Though the technique to reshape the cornea is more precise because of the laser replacing the flap incorrectly can still lead to obstacles to overcome. Obstacles such as astigmatism and blurry vision are erroneous results.

Laser eye treatment is a very viable option for the correction of vision. However other eye conditions can occur from this treatment. Dry eye syndrome is one of those conditions. This means that the patient may not be able to produce enough tears to have adequate moisture. There are several other symptoms that occur with this condition such as serious discomfort diminished vision or blurred vision. Dry eye syndrome can turn into a permanent condition and require intense therapy using eye drops.

Another factor that may certainly affect the results of this treatment is age. Though the procedure can produce excellent results when initially done age does reduce the effectiveness of the procedure. Perfect correction is not exactly possible in every patient. Many patients may still require the assistance of glasses or contacts.

Consideration for this treatment must be given not only to what doctor is chosen but also to the reputation for sterile and maintained equipment. You must have a good understanding of the procedure as well as any complications that may arise. You need to know what the healing process entails and what the monitoring process is after the surgery has been completed. And you also need to know how any complications will be handled.

There are a number of clinics available to perform this surgery. If you already have a regular eye doctor you can get referrals from him or her. This can be additional assurance that you have an experienced and qualified eye surgeon. All licenses required should be current and in place.

This treatment is used to correct nearsightedness farsightedness and problems with night vision. As mentioned earlier this surgery may not completely remove the necessity for glasses or contacts. Understand all elements of the full process and the implications of anything going wrong. If there are any other personal problems with diseases other than diabetes it is imperative to make the eye doctor aware of this information before undergoing laser eye treatment.

Opticians are usually quite easy to find. They are after all usually listed in the phone book. Good opticians however can be somewhat more difficult to locate. An individual’s relationship with his or her physician is important and a lack of connection with a doctor can make an individual less likely to schedule regular appointments. If you are concerned with your vision and your overall health you should take the time to find the right optician. This can be easily accomplished by checking with your insurance looking in your local area and getting recommendations from your friends and family.

Check Your Insurance

One of the sad facts about the insurance industry is that certain companies will only cover visits to certain opticians. Check with your insurance for a list of accepted eye doctors and you might find that your search for that perfect optician has been forcibly shortened. Most opticians will accept multiple forms of insurance and it can often be less expensive to simply visit an optician twice a year instead of paying for optical insurance. Of course it does still take time and effort to figure out which doctor on your insurance’s accepted list will be the best fit for your needs.

Look in the Area

If you need any kind of health coverage you should always look in your local area. After all an emergency can become significantly more severe if you have to take a long drive. Finding an eye doctor in the local area is often a good idea especially if you often find yourself with eye problems. The proximity is also helpful in cases where an individual is unable to see as it is far easier to find a ride to a closer optician’s office than one in another city. Most towns have several doctors to choose from and proximity should play a major factor in your choice.

Get Recommendations

Opticians are often quite a bit like mechanics no one particularly likes to make a visit but an affable professional can make a difference. Ask your friends and relatives about their doctors and see if you can get any kind of viable information. Try to discount any information that seems to be irrelevant and make sure that you get the opinions of several different people. After all one bad experience may simply be a fluke that will never be repeated. Likewise one person’s positive experience may not be enough to recommend an otherwise unpopular physician.

If you need to visit an optician you should take the time to find the right doctor for your needs. Look in your local area find recommendations from those you know and always check with your insurance company. If you can follow these three simple steps you should be able to find an individual in your area that will be able to help you with your ocular health. Remember that good opticians are quite hard to find but taking the time to do the research can be important to your health.

One of the many areas in which science enhances our lives is in the field of eye surgery. Laser eye surgery is the most successful technique for dealing with major eye problems. All over the world millions of people have made use of this kind of surgery. A reason it is in such high demand is that it is a very simple and effective kind of surgery.

If you haven’t read about this kind of surgery before you may not know how it works. Good eyesight depends on the condition of tissue in your cornea. This tissue enables us to see and determines whether we can see for long or short distances. There is very little time involved in the process of laser surgery. It involves burning the tissue around the cornea of your eye until it has all been removed. The precision laser used in laser eye surgery is called an excimer laser. Once this excess tissue is gone the surgeon can reshape your cornea. After laser surgery light rays will be refracted more efficiently by your corneas and focused on your retinas. This will bring about a vast improvement in your vision.

Each person has their own individual needs as far as reshaping the cornea goes. Subject to a surgeon’s assessment laser surgery is the simplest way to correct faulty vision in people of all ages including children. This kind of treatment is performed in all countries but because of the risk of complications that may arise during surgery the same precautions against infection must be observed with laser surgery as with conventional surgery. However it is estimated that the chance of failure of laser eye surgery is barely five percent.

It must be emphasized that laser surgery will improve your eyesight enabling you to see without glasses but perfect vision cannot be guaranteed. Apart from the odd case of eye irritation laser eye surgery is extremely safe with no side effects. If you do have any problems after surgery consult your doctor.

Another ailment that causes poor vision is the development of cataracts. Cataracts stop the light from reaching the convex lenses of your eye thus preventing you from seeing properly. They are most often a symptom of advanced age. Cataracts usually affect both eyes but quite often one eye is more severely affected than the other. People suffering from cataracts may not notice at first. A gradual impairment in vision will become apparent as the cataracts grow and sometimes a person will experience double vision or difficulty distinguishing colors. Additionally driving at night may become troublesome. Usually a doctor will prescribe glasses for cataract patients recommending surgery only if lenses do not provide any improvement.

Laser eye surgery is often an effective way of removing cataracts being used in cases where ultrasound was once applied. As cataract surgery is very delicate requiring special care and dedicated instruments it is not usually carried out in a doctor’s surgery. As healing after laser eye surgery can take weeks doctors suggest that patients have surgery done on one eye at a time.

An optician fills and dispenses prescriptions for eye glass lenses and other devices which aid in correcting sight. This professional is not qualified or trained to perform the medical tests required to ascertain the type of prescription necessary. That is the bailiwick of an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Opticians may also play a role in the design and manufacture of lenses.

These health care professionals do not diagnose vision problems but after diagnosis they are the person with whom a patient will discuss their problems following diagnosis. Opticians can address issues resulting from inadequate lenses and poor visual habits of patients. While ophthalmologists are experts about eyes opticians are experts in the devices which correct poor vision.

Types Of Corrective Devices Dispensed By Opticians

The types of corrective devices handled by opticians are numerous. Most people associate opticians with eyeglasses. However they are qualified to manage the needs of people who use glasses contact lenses and special prosthetics for those with only partial vision.

Equipment Used By Opticians

Opticians use several devices to determine what kind of glasses and lenses a person will need to correct the problem that was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. Lensometers help an optician to correctly mount lenses on a patient’s face. The pupilometer allows opticians to measure the distance between a patient’s pupils with great exactness. This is crucial for creating glasses with lenses in the right place. Without a good pupilometer patients can experience severe eye strain due to lenses that do not place the correct thickness over their pupils.

Contact lenses require the use of a device known as the keratometer. This piece of equipment measures the curvature of the cornea. It is particularly useful in dealing with symptoms of astigmatism.

The biomicroscope plays a large role in one of the most basic examinations performed by opticians. While the patient is seated the optician examines the patient’s eye through the biomicroscope. He or she then touches the surface of the patient’s eye with a piece of paper that has been dipped in a fluorescent dye. Natural tears will wash the dye safely out of the eye.

Locations

Opticians are found in many different medical environments. They often work under the supervision of an optometrist or an ophthalmologist in a special clinic devoted to vision care. However they may also work in their own shops or in hospitals under a variety of forms of supervision.

History

Researchers believe that spectacles or eyeglasses were first invented in the middle ages. The innovation of concave lessons was apparently introduced in the 16th century. By this time some people were essentially functioning as opticians by grinding out lenses. However their medical and professional knowledge was very limited. Advances in the skills of opticians over the centuries have freed many people from virtual blindness as their vision naturally declined due to age or due to a genetic predisposition. Wearing glasses and other corrective devices has become very common in modern society. An optician always has plenty of opportunity to help those with corrective vision needs.

The two professionals that are usually employed in eye care centers and optical centers are the optometrists and the opticians. The optometrist examines the patients’ eyes and prescribes the appropriate vision aid if necessary. The optician receives the prescription from the optometrist and will fit the eye glasses or contact lenses according to the prescription. This is a very general job description. The actual duties and skills are far more involved and also include direct contact with patients.

A dispensing optician also works closely with the optometrist. A correct prescription alone does not guarantee an optimal vision. Opticians take various characteristics of the patient into consideration when they recommend a particular kind of frame lenses and other features. Information on how the patient will use the glasses or contact lenses his/her profession activities and facial features play an important role in choosing the right pair of eyeglasses or other visual aids. Patients can be overwhelmed when presented with the variety of options pertaining to eye glasses. The optician can recommend a pair of glasses that will suit the individual needs of the patient. In order to find the perfect pair of glasses the optician measures the patient’s eyes. This includes the distance between the center of the pupils and the distance between the ocular surface and the lens. Opticians can also measure existing eye glasses to duplicate the prescription for patients without prescriptions.

Opticians prepare work orders according to the prescription so the ophthalmic laboratory technician is able to manufacture the lens. These work orders include information about size color coating color style and so forth. Verifying that the lenses comply with the prescription is also the responsibility of the optician. Once the glasses are manufactured the optician adjusts the frame if necessary to achieve a perfect and comfortable fit for the customer.
Instructing patients on how to adapt to their new glasses how to care for the new pair of eye glasses and how to insert/remove contact lenses are also done by the optician.

Most dispensing opticians receive on the job training through the employer in form of an apprenticeship. The apprenticeship usually lasts for about 2 years and includes training in areas of physics algebra optical physics trigonometry as well as basic anatomy. Some employers prefer a post secondary training instead.

Apprentices learn the technical aspects of the job in addition to office management and also sales. Sales training includes effective communication skills because opticians work directly with the patients in a wide variety of functions. Manual dexterity and the ability to do precision work are prerequisites for the optician. 20 states currently require a license to work as a dispensing optician.

The salary of a dispensing optician depends on several factors like the location and the setting. The average salary for an optician working 40 hours per week is $ 34790 annually. The top paying states for opticians are Massachusetts with $ 49.690 Connecticut with $ 52.180 and New Jersey with $ 49130. Individuals who enjoy working with customers and enjoy manual work will find this profession very rewarding.